What's in the Tub ~ Big Machines

Our March theme here at Totally Tots is Big Machines. Here are a few simple ideas of what to include in your bin for your Tot to explore!

What's included:

(1) bag of inexpensive coffee beans

(1) small bag of brown pom poms

(1) package of Caterpillar Construction Machines

(1) package of Construction Trucks

(1) quiet time activity mat

This bin was a major hit and a snap to put together. I loved incorporating the sense of smell to this bin with the coffee beans. My daughter (30 months) and my son (4.5 yrs) both have asked to get this bin out many times.

The quiet time mat came from my sweet and talented sister-in-law. It has snaps, buttons, a zipper, a buckle and a tie. All 5 Caterpillar Construction Machines fit into the zippered pouch too! The back side has a racetrack.

Aaron's favorite thing these days are trucks and construction vehicles so he jumped in to join the fun. Those machines were hard at work scooping, lifting, pushing, hauling and dumping!

They both loved running their fingers through this bin. Aaron pretended his arm was a crane loading and unloading the beans. This bin encouraged quiet. I think the aroma of the coffee beans and letting their fingers run through them was relaxing.

Lydia use the bulldozer most, pushing piles of "dirt" back and forth. But her favorite thing was scooping a handful and slowly letting it trickle down. I was a bit concerned the option to play out of the bin would turn into a mess, but they've kept it all on the mat each time they've played with the exception of a few run-aways.

What's in the Tub? is a monthly feature that focuses on fun sensory tub ideas to go along with the monthly theme at Totally Tots. Click here to see past sensory tub ideas.